Hi, About an hour ago I got back from an unusually intense (for me) 40 mile bike ride. It was 93 degrees out today and I was sweating a LOT. I drank water at 0, 10, and 30 miles. When I got home, I felt really tired (sleep tired, not physically exhausted tired) and lightheaded (in a weird way). Usually I can bike this much without feeling too tired but today was different. After I got back home, I drank some water with sea salt and baking soda in it, had several pieces of toast, a glass of chocolate milk, a glass of lime-aid (like lemonade but with limes...), and a banana. I felt a little better immediately after drinking the water with salt and baking soda in it, but I'm still a little worried. I took a cold shower and have been inside lying down on the couch since I got back. Anyways, I'm about to eat dinner and I'm wondering if any of you guys have experienced this before and if I should make anything in particular or if you think I'm overreacting.
yea aha, what exactly does salt/baking soda+water do? and how long did it take you to bike 40 miles? that shits fucking crazy man haha.
my dad is a 65 year old 175-225mi/week road cyclist. He says his favorite thing to drink post hard ride is a glass of milk or chocolate milk. But, nothing against you, my dad is an extremely tough dude...no daddy issues here.
Well, since I was sweating so much, I thought that I lost some kinds of salt as Blackice suggested... so the sea salt in water gives Na+ Cl- and the baking soda is Na+ HCO3- (= cheap electrolyte drink). It really doesn't taste horrible with water... not that it tastes good, either. Banana gives K+, lime gives some citrates and other stuff, chocolate milk and toast to cover all the bases. Milk has Mg 2+ and protein. Those were all the important ions I remember from biochem anyways... I don't time my rides strictly because I bike for fun and not for competitions or anything, but I think it was between 2 and 3 hours. I feel fine now, anyways. I had to take my cat in to the vet, too.. what a day...
It was hot, you biked a lot, your body temp probably increased a lot and you lost a lot of water. your metabolism is in overdrive. your muscles are fatigued. you centrl nervous system needs a rest. you may have pushed yourself harder than you're used to. If not, maybe your diet changed up to a day or two of your workout? My guess is get some rest and essential nutrients and you'll be fine.
I've never done a 20+ mile ride but I do like to go on regular long rides and I think not only is it important to pay attention to what you eat after your ride but also before! Did you eat a lot less pre-ride maybe? I usually eat some kind of meat/carb combo with a banana an hour or two before a ride. No matter what I eat, I am usually physically exhausted after a good long ride, but if you're not used to that, I'd take a closer look at your diet.
